Braidwood Refueling Outage Helps Power Local Economy

More than 2,000 highly trained technical workers are in the area to support Braidwood Generating Station’s Unit 1 refueling outage that began shortly after midnight last night.

BRACEVILLE, Ill. – More than 2,000 highly trained technical workers are in the area to support Braidwood Generating Station’s Unit 1 refueling outage that began shortly after midnight last night. Scheduled outages allow workers to perform detailed inspections, equipment upgrades and maintenance work that cannot be completed while the units are operating.

The majority of the temporary workforce supports the station for approximately six weeks at a payroll of $24 million. These good paying jobs and the influx of people to the area temporarily boost the local economy.

“Our businesses see a positive boost from Braidwood Station’s refueling outages,” said Braidwood Chamber of Commerce President Angie Hutton. “The local business community benefits from the additional workers who need local accommodations and purchase goods, services and meals throughout the area.”

Braidwood has two reactors, each of which is refueled once every 18 months. One-third of the unit’s fuel will be replaced and comprehensive maintenance and testing activities will be performed.

“The safe and reliable operation of Braidwood Generating Station is always our top priority,” said Braidwood Generating Station Site Vice President Mark Kanavos. “Refueling outages are critical to assuring plant safety and long-term equipment reliability.”

Braidwood Unit 2 will continue to generate electricity during the Unit 1 outage. Braidwood Generating Station is approximately 60 miles southwest of Chicago. The station’s two nuclear energy units can produce a total of more than 2,300 megawatts of carbon free electricity – enough to power more than 2 million typical homes.

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About Exelon

Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC) is the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2012 revenues of approximately $23.5 billion. Headquartered in Chicago, Exelon has operations and business activities in 47 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. Exelon is one of the largest competitive U.S. power generators, with approximately 35,000 megawatts of owned capacity comprising one of the nation’s cleanest and lowest-cost power generation fleets. The company’s Constellation business unit provides energy products and services to approximately 100,000 business and public sector customers and approximately 1 million residential customers. Exelon’s utilities deliver electricity and natural gas to more than 6.6 million customers in central Maryland (BGE), northern Illinois (ComEd) and southeastern Pennsylvania (PECO).